Navy Chief Briefs Rajnath Singh of Fire Aboard Warship INS Brahmaputra

New Delhi: Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Monday apprised Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about an incident of fire onboard India's frontline warship INS Brahmaputra at the Mumbai naval dockyard that significantly damaged the vessel.

According to the Navy, a junior sailor is missing following the fire incident on Sunday evening and rescue teams are trying to trace him.

"Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi has apprised RM Shri @rajnathsingh of the fire breakout onboard Indian Naval Ship Brahmaputra and the damages caused by the incident," Singh's office said on 'X'.

It said the defence minister prayed for the safety of the missing sailor.

The ship was undergoing refit at the dockyard. 

Soldier Went Missing After INS Brahmaputra Damaged in Fire

A fire broke out on board the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Brahmaputra on Sunday and one soldier went missing post the mishap.  

The incident occurred while the INS was undergoing refit at ND (Mbi). The fire was brought under control by the ship’s crew with the assistance of firefighters from Naval Dockyard, Mumbai (ND (Mbi)) and other ships in the harbour by Monday morning. Further, follow-on actions including sanitisation checks for assessment of residual risk of fire were carried out.

Subsequently, in the afternoon, the ship experienced severe listing to one side (port side). Despite all efforts, the ship could not be brought to the upright position, continued to list further alongside her berth and is presently resting on one side.

All personnel have been accounted for except one junior sailor, for whom the search is in progress. An inquiry has been ordered by the Indian Navy to investigate the accident. 

(With inputs from PTI)